Presence of α -Naphthyl Acetate Esterase Activity in Human Haematopoietic Cell Lines and in Fresh Biopsy Specimens of Lymphoma and Myeloma

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Abstract
Non-proliferating human T[thymus-derived]- but not B[bone marrow-derived]-lymphocytes contain demonstrable amounts of acid .alpha.-naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE). The usefulness of this histochemical marker for the diagnosis and classification of malignant lymphoid tumors was investigated by use of a panel of established normal and malignant human hematopoietic cell lines and fresh biopsy cells from malignant lymphomas and myelomas. Not only the T-cell derived acute leukemia lines, but also histiocytic lymphoma and myeloma lines and some of the lymphoma (Burkitt and lymphocytic) and non-neoplastic lymphoblastoid cell lines with B- cell surface markers expressed strong ANAE reactivity. Some of the immunoglobulin producing myeloma and lymphocytic lymphoma biopsies were ANAE-positive. Inhibition experiments with sodium fluoride and E-600 demonstrated that although the T-lymphocyte specific esterase is predominantly of the A-type, the malignant lines also contain a non-specific B esterase and pseudocholinesterase. As the presence of the various esterases did not demonstrate any specific distribution pattern among the hematopoietic cell lines of different origin, the ANAE marker is apparently no longer T-specific when malignant lymphoid cells are considered, and the usefulness of this marker in routine diagnostic work therefore is limited.